FIRE-FIGHTING AND ITS DEVELOPMENTS.
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Fire Brigade Officers Confer and Inspect Modern Appliances and their Methods of Manufacture.
THE MEETING of the Professional Fire "Brigades Association, which opened at Croydon on dime 6th, was the 21st, or the " coming-of-age" event. The conference partook of an Imperial character, for it was attended by officers and representatives of fire brigades from Dominions overseas, as well as by representatives of the important fire-fighting services of the country.
A munber of papers was read, Chief Officer J. W. Dane, of the Croydon Fire Brigade, dealing withmany Of the prob. lems that confront brigade officials.
Certain firms exhibited appliances and equipment employed in fire-fighting, and the motor concerns contributed usefully to the dispay. Leyland Motors, Ltd., showed their 300-400-gallon machine, having a 36-40 h.p engine driving a Rees-Roturbo twin impeller, multi-stage pump, which gives a continuous flow and has an automatic load adjustment. They also showed the Stanley engine, which is a fire-pump mounted on a 1-ton Ford chassis specially adapted for the purpose, extra provision having been made for cooling the water and oil. This pump is'of the single-stage turbine type, and it will deliver between 50 and 200 gallons per minute at engine speeds of from 800 to 1,000 r.p.m.
Leyland Motors also exhibited their portable pump, mounted in a tubular frame standing on four feet, with provision for mounting on a two-wheeled carriage, which can be towed with safety behind any vehicle at very high speeds. The twin-cylinder engine on this appliance develops b h.p., and is coupled direct to a:. two-stage ReesRoturbo pump
Tilling-Stevens Motors, Ltd., snowed their light fire-engine, which has been built on the lines of the company's larger engine and has a Holden and Brooke patent three-stage, high-duty centrifugal pump, with an output of 150 to 200 gallons per minute. It is specially designed to take water from low-pressure hydrants, boosting -up the pressure in order to give a useful stream of water. The weight of this complete appliance is under two tons, and it accommodates eight men seated, whilst others can stand on the side running boards at the back platform. This machine can travel at 30 m.p.h. on the level, and can be made to carry a lighttrussed -extension ladder and a. chemical extinguisher for first-aid work.
Dennis Bros., Ltd., showed their 500-600-gallon turbine fire-engine, having a 60-70 lep. engine fitted with a 60-ft. escape. This has been built for the Singapore Brigade. They also showed a 200-300-ga1lon fire tender, which has a 30 h.p. engine, built for the Edinburgh Fire Brigade. The pump employed,is the new patent multi-stage Dennis turbine, which can be fitted to any motor vehicle, thers.,by converting it into a fire
fighting appliance. The new portable turbine trailer fire-engine, having an output of 200-250 ,gallons per minute, was also on view.
During the course of the conference delegates to the number of 134 visited -the Dennis factory at Guildford, lacing conveyed in five Dennis motor coaches and single-deck omnibuses. Chief Officer Dane made the journey on his fire tender, which has been in the service of the Croydon Fire Brigade for 10 years. On arrival at the factory the visitors separated into groups 'and, were taken
round under the personal guidance of Sir Raymond Dennis and other officials.
Tea and refreshments were provided in the mesaroom. and following this Chief Officer Dane lCt•oydon), the newly elected president, called upon Chief Officer Burns (Birkenhead), the hon. secretary of the Association, to move a vote of thanks to the directors of Messrs. Dennis Bros., which was responded to by Sir Raymond Dennis, K.B.E. Sir Raymond referred to the fact; that it was as long ago as 1908 that the firm, who were the first successfully to adapt the turbine pump to motor fire-engines, manufactured the first of these engines, and to the Corporation of Bradford belonged the distinction of being its purchaser. Since that time over 1,030 Dennis turbine fireengines have been delivered, the authorities in London alone having more than a hundred.